Economic sabotage: Police busts illegal petroleum refining site, arrests 2 suspects, recovers trucks

Etim Ekpimah

Police operatives attached to the IGP Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) in the late hours of August 7, 2022, successfully busted an illegal petroleum refining operation in Edo State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, followed the interception of intelligence on activities of an alleged illicit petroleum products refining syndicate operating adjacent to Agbor Junction, Benin City, Edo State via a whistleblower through the recently created Nigeria National Petroleum Company’s (NNPC) Command and Control Centre Portal.

He stated that consequent to the raid on the illegal petroleum refining site, three (3) empty DAF Trucks, thirty-one (31) immobile surface tanks – 7 of which were loaded with an unspecified quantity of petroleum products, were discovered by the Police.

“Additionally, two suspects, one Chinedu Iyanabor aged 18 and Sunday Iyagbesun aged 52, were arrested during the raid. preliminary investigations reveal the site was also used as a dump site for petroleum products.

“The Inspector-General of Police has tasked special enforcement units on prevention of activities of economic saboteurs to ensure deployment of necessary manpower and other operational assets to ensure a total clampdown on criminal activities detriment to the economic growth of the nation.

“The IGP has similarly supervised the strengthening of the Unit with a charge to intensify efforts, in conjunction with local police officers, to sustain police approved operational standards in tackling economic sabotage, crimes and criminality in the country,” he said.

He equally charged the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Unit to embark on strict supervision of the Unit in compliance with the directives.

According to Adejobi, all suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.